So far this Summer, it’s always been pretty clear which movie would wind up taking the top spot at the box office each weekend. That’s definitely not the case this weekend, though, as highly-anticipated sci-fi flick Prometheus squares off against the third installment in DreamWorks’ Madagascar series. Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted is reaching 4,258 locations, which is the 11th-widest release ever (second-widest for an animated movie behind Shrek Forever After), while Prometheus is no slouch either at 3,394 venues (10th all-time for an R-rated movie). Both movies should earn over $40 million, though from there it’s tough to call.

After endless speculation, it’s now been made pretty clear to those keeping score—yes, Prometheus is functioning as a prequel to director Ridley Scott’s Alien. That movie kicked off the larger Alien franchise when it earned $78.9 million, or the equivalent of $249.1 million adjusting for ticket price inflation, in Summer 1979. James Cameroncontinued the series with 1986′s Aliens ($85.2 million, $181.8 million adjusted), and both Scott and Cameron’s outings are widely considered to be classic entries in the sci-fi genre. Unfortunately, the franchise lost some of its luster with disappointing sequels Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection in the 1990s and then with mash-ups Alien Vs. Predator and Aliens Vs. Predator – Requiem in the last decade…. MORE